Electric fuse-igniter.



S. CLARK.

ELECTRIC FUSE IGNITER.

APPLICATION FILED mars. 1914.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

WITN ESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHERMAIT CLARK, OF COTTAGE GROVE, OREGQN.

. ELECTRIC FUSE-IGNITER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHERMAN CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cottage Grove, in the county of Lane and State of Oregon,have invented. new and useful Improvements in Electric Fuse- Igniters,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electric fuse igniters.

The objects of my improvements are,, first, to provide a simple, highlyefficient form of fuse igniter which may be quickly and easily attachedto the fuse and which is sufficiently substantial in construction toprevent its destruction, thus permitting it to be used over and overagain; and, second, to provide a novel form of connection between thefuse and igniter which is watertight and which also serves the functionof an automatic .disconnector when the fuse ignites.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combinationof parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, havingreference tothe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view. of the igniter F ig. 2 is a perspective view showingthe several parts of'the igniter separated. Fig. 3 is a side elevationshowing the fuse and igniter connected, the fuse and connector beingshown partly in section.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a round tapering shell of brass,copper, or any other suitable metal, on the larger end of whichis formeda pair of outwardly.

extending lugs 2. Insertible into the larger end of the shell is aholder 3, constructed of glass, porcelain, or other suitable insulatingmaterial. One end of this holder is tapered and flattened, as indicatedat 4:,and is providedwith a groove 5 which connects with a largersemicircular groove 6 formed in the larger round end of the holder.

Groove 5 is provided as a seat for an ignition wire 7 which may be madeof platinum, German silver, or like material, and the inner ends of saidWire extend up into the larger semicircular groove 6 and are hereconnected with two pieces of insulated copper wire as indicated at 8, ofsuitable size and gage. The ignition wire 7, together with the insulatedsections 8, are first se curedtogetherand placed in position on theholder, as indicated in Fig. 2. The ends of Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application filed March 5,1914. Serial No. 822,566.

the insulated sections 8 are then inserted through the tapered tube Aand the holder is inserted with the wires in the position indicated. Thelong end of the tube is then filled with a suitable form of cement, asindicated at 9, for the purpose of securing the holder, with connectedwires, permanently in position within the tube. The lugs 2 may befurthermore slightly bent to decrease the large opening to such anextent that the holder could not possibly be removed.

The device assembled ready for use is shown in Fig. 1. This figure alsoshows the application of a piece of rubber tubing '10. This piece oftubing is slipped over the smaller end of the shell to the positionindicated in Fig. 1 and is then doubled back on itself, in whichposition it is ready for use.

Connection between a section of fuse. and

the igniter is accomplished in the following manner: A suitable form offuse is first split, as indicated at11, Fig. 2. The tapered separated.The current may then be turned on, causing the ignition wire to beinstantly white hot. This will ignite the powder in the split fuse andcause same to burn. The ignition of the fuse at this point causes adischarge of smoke or gas from the burning powder and this creates asufiicient pressure or force to disconnect the fuse from the igniter,or, in other words, blow it off. The igniter is thus automaticallydisconnected and may be pulled away from the danger zone, if so desired,by the lead wires.

An igniter constructed in the manner shown may be used over and overagain, as it may be withdrawn from the danger zone the moment the fusehas become ignited.

The igniter may be connected with the lead wires in such a manner thatone shot may be fired at a time or several instantaneously, that is, anynumber may be fired either in series or in rotation. The lead wires maybe connected with any suitable source of electric power and can in-thisinstance be successfully used in connection with a storage battery orlike device. It

thus becomes possible to eliminate the necessity of wiring the mine forthis purpose, as the lead wires for a certain number of shots may bedirectly connected with the storage battery placed in any suitableposition within the mine.

The device is simple in construction, perfectly safe and practical inits application, and is practically indestructible for the reasonsbefore stated.

I wish it understood that various changes in form, proportions and minordetails of construction may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims, and that I do not wish to limit myself to the specificdesign and construction here shown.

The materials and finish of the several parts of the igniter are such asthe judg ment and experience of the manufacturer may dictate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is'- 1. In a fuse igniter, a tapered shell, a taperedholder of insulating material within the shell, an ignition wire on saidholder, terminal wires in the shell with which the ignition wire isconnected, and means for securing the holder within the shell.

2. In a fuse igniter, a tapered shell, a holder of insulating materialwithin the shell, an ignition-wire on said holder, terminal wires in theshell with which the ignition wire is connected, means for securing theholder within the shell, and means for holding the ignition wire on theholder.

3.'In a fuse igniter, a shell, a holder of insulating material withinthe shell, an ignition wire on said holder, terminal wires in the shellwith which the ignition wire is con nected, means for securing theholder within the shell, means for holding the ignition wire on theholder, and means for connecting the igniter with a fuse. I

4. In an electric fuse igniter, a tapered shell, a holder of insulatingmaterial within the shell, said holder being flattened and tapered atone end, an ignition wire on said holder, terminal wires in the shellwith which the ignition wire is connected, means for securing the holderWithin the shell, and means for holding the ignition wire on the holder.v

5. In an electric fuse igniter, a tapered shell, a holder of insulatingmaterial within the shell, said holder being flattened and tapered atone end, a groove formed in the holder extendingfrom end to end of same,an ignition wire in said groove, terminal wires in the shell with whichthe ignition wire is connected, means for securing the holder within theshell, and means for connecting the igniter with a fuse.

6. In an electric fuse igniter, a tapered shell, a holder of insulatingmaterial within the shell, said holder being flattened and tapered atone end, a groove formed in the holder extending from end to end ofsame.

an ignition wire in said groove, terminal wires inthe shell with whichthe ignition wire is connected, lugs formed on the end of the shell tolock the holder'within the shell,

and a rubber sleeve on the shell adapted to connect the igniter with afuse, substantially as described.

7. An electric fuse igniter comprising a casing, a holder within thecasing, a wedge shaped end on the holder for insertion between the splitends of a fuse, and means carried by the holder for igniting the fuse.

8. An electric r fuse igniter comprising a casing, a holder of insulatedmaterial within the casing, an igniting wire passing entirely around oneend of the holder, and means for holding the fuse in contact with saidigniting Wire. y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

SHERMAN CLARK.

Witnesses:

J. A. MCCULLY, L. A. CLARK.

